Whooping cough in children - symptoms and treatment

Nature development and the spread of infection.

Pertussis infects only humans, and is the causative agent of bacterial infection - called pertussis wand (Bordetella pertussis).The spread of pertussis occurs only through airborne droplets, it is transmitted to young children who have no specific immunity of the patient or healthy bacillicarriers (chronic bacteriocarrier quite rare).Once the disease develops lifelong immunity.

incubation period.

risk group are children of preschool and early childhood.Whooping cough up, the disease is very dangerous to life and health of the child.

Once in the body, pertussis wand is attached to the wall of the airway sometimes to the terminal branches of the bronchial tree, first gradually causes the lung inflammation, such as a small cough, runny nose is possible, redness and sore throat.Heavier and major signs of pertussis occur after 10-14 days, because in the bloo

d and bronchial lumen receives a large amount of toxin that produces pertussis sticks - Bordetella.In turn, it also affects the respiratory tract mucosa and affect the central nervous system, because of the ill child becomes highly capricious may lose appetite, as well as disturbed sleep.

signs and course of the disease.

Initially period of pertussis is not specific on the grounds and may resemble acute respiratory disease: there is a slight elevation of body temperature - 37,0 - 37,5 ° C, as there is a slight malaise, dry cough, nasal discharge has a slimy character.It was during this period in contact with the child may develop up to 90% of persons without specific immunity.

Cough worse gradually: 12 - 14th day observed typical spasmodic attacks, which are a feature of pertussis.The feature consists of a cough attack shocks that are replaced by a deep whistling breath, called reprise.Then again developed whooping cough and should be.The number of cycles for such attacks can range 2 - 15 times, depending on the severity of the disease.Most such attacks happen in the evening or at night, in a hot and stuffy room (for this reason, patients with pertussis is recommended to sleep with the window slightly open), at least during the day.At the time of the child cough excited, his face becomes puffy, turning blue, visible on the conjunctiva small hemorrhage may nosebleeds, perform vein in the neck.When coughing child sticks out his tongue out, this happens, it often bridle sometimes injured.In infants, the risk of respiratory arrest is very high, as well as an appearance at the peak of the attack jerking of muscles in the body of the baby.After the attack may be a small selection of transparent viscous sputum or even vomiting.Depending on the severity of the disease the number of such episodes per day varies between 5 - 50 times.In young children, the cough may be persistent and be accompanied by vomiting.The period of spasmodic cough of duration may be from 3 to 4 weeks, then the typical attacks are not easy whooping cough - it means that the period of authorization already occurs, which may last about 2 - 3 weeks.

treatment of whooping cough in children.

in the hospital should be treated all children with complications of the disease, and children up to a year.In other cases, the child is treated at home.When the diagnosis of whooping cough need to create a peaceful environment for children, to eliminate all possible irritants that can trigger coughing.It can start at loud noises, sudden movement or sudden frightened child.You also need to regularly ventilate the room in which the baby is sick, since the lack of fresh air can adversely affect his health.

At the initial stage of whooping cough antibiotics is justified, because at this stage they can suppress the development of infection.As a result, until the spasmodic cough may occur cure.However, if this step comes, antibiotics pertussis wand can not act effectively.Therefore, a child antibiotics in the second period does not make sense in patients with uncomplicated illness.

have seen small children pertussis bacillus sensitivity to drugs such as azithromycin and erythromycin.Of the other drugs can assign antiallergic agents, because, apart from spastic cough toxin causes the entire body of the patient allergy baby.Apply antihistamines - pipolfen, tavegil, diphenhydramine and others on prescription in respective age doses and calcium supplements, they also expressed anti-allergic effect.The easiest and most effective drug is a calcium gluconate in doses according to the age of the child, which is determined by the doctor.To dissolve thick mucus used inhalation of proteolytic enzymes - chymotrypsin, himopsin, but up to 3 years inhalers are not recommended for children.